Oil burner



Sept. 5, 1939. 4 R F. DEVLEQN' 2,171,915

OIL BURNER Filed April 7, 1956 2 sheets-sheet 1 n ,l a

/8 n Z7 Z9 Sept. 5, 1939. R. F. DE LEON `2,171,916

l QIL BURNER.

Filed April 7, 193s 2 sheetssheet 2 Pa sae/ i 0 em ,47- P/VEV patentedseat. s, 1939 PATENT OFFICE' OIL BURNER Raphael F. De Leon, Hartford,Conn.

Application April '1, 1936, Serial No. 73,083

25 Claims.

My invention relates to liquid fuel burners.

It has among its objects to provide 'an improved igniter for suchburners, whereby it is made possible materially to expedite andfacilitate the lighting of the same. A further object of my invention isto provide improved accessible means especially adapted to'use inconnection with such burners despite the fact that the combustionchamber or starting wick is inaccessible, vand wherein^heretofore it hasbeen necessary Vto light and insert a taper manually between the shellsin order to light the wick. Another object of my invention is toeliminate the need for such tapers. A still further object of myinvention is to provide improved means for lighting suchA burners,whereby it is also made possible to eliminate the smoking or sooting upthereof, as Well as the blowing out of the same, all heretoforefrequently experienced. Still other objects of my invention are toprovide an improved fuel supply for igniting purposes together with animproved igniter wick which is readily accessible, and improved meansfor supplying said uid, when desired, from said supply to said wick inthe desired quantity; all while providing an exceedingly simple,

' convenient and safe structure readily adapted to Figure 1 is a sideelevation partially in section,

y showing one -form of my invention applied to an oil burner equipmentincluding a plurality of burners;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig.1, certain parts being omitted or broken away to facilitateillustration;

Fig. 3 is anenlarged detail sectional view of the igniting wick and thesupply connection therefor;

mechanism shown in Figs. land 2;

Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. 3 and showing a modified constructionfor igniting a plurality of burner wicks of the same burner;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modied constructionembodying a modied form of igniting wick'having a modified bottom fuel'Supply;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view, showing Fig.4 is an enlargedsectional view of the pum-p thewiclr and fuel supply connections usedvin Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the pump used in connection withFig. 6, and

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of a modified 5 form of pumpmechanism.

Referring flrst to the illustrative structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, itwill be noted that I have therein shown a. burner installation includinga fuel`rservoir I of a usual type and supplying l0 fuel through pipeconnections 2 in a usual manner by gravity through the bottom of usualchanneled burner bases 3, herein comprising parts of burners of a usualdistillate type, generally indicated at 4 and 5, and'having usualstarting wicks, indicated at 6, between one or more of the usualperforated shells 1; improved mechanism herein being provided wherebyfuel for igniting one or more of the wicks 6 is' supplied thereto insuch an improved manner as to enable the same to be ignited from .20 thetop of thefburnen i. e., at the top of vthe shells 'I which constitutethe flue, all as' hereinafter more fully described. Referring moreparticularly to Figs. 1 and 4;

it will be noted-that the supply line 2 is connected at the reservoirside of a usual metering valve 8 therein, through a pipe 9 to a pumpcylinder I0, herein suitably adjustably carried, as by aband II, at thedesired height on 'any conven ient support such, for example, as a usualreservoir supporting column I2. Herein, it will be noted that a pistonI3 is disposed in the cylinder III and normally vis pressed downwardinto the bottom of the cylinder by a spring I4 coiled about a piston rodI5 and acting between the piston I3 and'the top of the cylinder. Asshown, this rod I5 is also provided with an operating member I6permitting the same to be drawn up and `released for return to itsbottom position by the spring I4, this operating member herein being inthe form of al ring, while the rod may also, if desired, be suitablypacked, as indicated at I'I.. Be-

low the piston I3, and preferably in a base I8, linlet and outlet checkvalve means of any suitable construction are provided. These, in the .45illustrative structure, are of like construction but reversed and eachincludes a cage member I9 in which a ball 2 0 and coiled spring 2| aredisposed, controlling the'iiow through passagesv22 and 23 in the memberI9. As shown, one of these valves,A generally indicated at A, is placedbetween the pipe 9 land an inlet port 24 leading into the bottom of the.cylinder III, while the other valve, generally indicated atB, isplacedbetween an-outlet port 2 5 leading out of the bottom of thecylinder and an outlet pipe 26.

Thus, it will be evident that whenever the piston I3 is pulled up, acharge of igniting fuel will be drawn from the pipe 2 through the pipe 9up through the valve A, in such manner as to fill the lcylinder III, thevalve B or outlet valve being it will be noted that herein the pipe 26leadsthrough improved connections hereinafter described, to the top ofone of the burners, where it supplies fuel t'o improved accessibleigniting means adapted to rbe suitably ignited as, for example, by amatch, and further, are also adapted to carry the ame down betweenadjacent shells 1, herein the outer pair, to the wicks 6 between thesame. Herein, I have shown in Figs. 1 to l such igniting means andconnections for one wick of each of the burners 4 and 5 and both ofthese igniting means supplied from the pipe 26, but, as I am not limitedto such a double construction and may also use my invention inconnection with a single burner, reference willrst be had to the meansassociated with but the one burner 4.

As illustrated in Figs. l and 2, the pipe 26 has a valve 21 connectedtherein so that in one position of the valve, fuel will flow from pipe26 through a valve port 28 into a communicating pipe 29 and up therefromthrough another pipe 30 to the burner 4. In a preferred construction,this pipe 30 is of smaller diameter than the pipe 29 and leads up alongthe burner, suitably spaced therefrom as desired, to the top of theshells 1. There, it is provided with a hooked upper delivery end 3|delivering transversely over the outer shell and then downward inside.said shell into a vertically disposed igniting wick 32. `As shown, thelatter includes an outer cover or shell of suitable non-combustible wickmaterial of absorbent character and has within the same an innerexpanding core 33. This 'is in the form of a coiled wire suitablyconnected at one end, as at 34, and slidable on a depending portion 35on'` the end 3|, and extending throughout the length of the wick 32 insuch manner as to permit a flow of igniting fluid to saturate the wick'32 from the inside and also permit any excess to be delivered on thewick 8 and in the usual channels of the burner base 3 which carrytheother wickor wicks 6 and provide passage means therebetween. Herein, itwill be observed that the hollow igniter member 32 thus provided has itslower end resting upon the upper edge of the wick 6 'in the base 3. l

As a result of this -improved construction, when the igniting charge isexpelled from the cylinder I0 by the piston I3, the same will bedelivered through the valve port 28 up through the pipe 30 and from thelatter through the end portion 35 thereon into the hollow interior ofthe wick 32. As a result, the fuel will flow down l through the wickwhich, due to its 'absorbent character, will become entirely impregnatedwith liquid creeps down through the wick, while the excess liquid willbe supplied to the wicks and channels as'heretofore described.Consequently, if, after the igniting charge has thus been delivered tothe wick 32, a match is applied tov the upper end of the latter, theflame will also creep down the wick and consequently ignite the burner lWick or wicks 6, all in such manner as quickly to effect the lighting ofthe burner. Here, it will also be observed that, the wick beingprotected between the shells, and remaining in contact with one wick 6,the construction is such as to be free from any tendency to blow out,while insuring quick and `satisfactory lighting of the wick 6, followingthe touching of a match to the top of wick 32, with a minimum ofsmoking. Attention is also particularly directed to the fact that due tothe small cross section of the pipe 30 the amount of the fuel remainingin the pipe 3|, after the burner starts in operation, is so small as toeliminate the difficulty with sputtering which would result from the useof a larger pipe 3|.-

Further, by turning the valve 2`I off and the valve 8 on, it will beevident that communication between any oil remaining in the pipe 30 andthe pipe 26 will be eilectually cut off and that a normal operating owwill be established from the reservoir I through valve 8.

In the illustrative structure, the valve, 21 is a plural way valve soconstructed that the port 28 may be swung from communication with thepipe 29 past its off position and into communication with a pipe 31,similar to the pipe 29, and like- Wise connected through a small pipe38, similar to the pipe 30, and having a likel connection to acorresponding wick 32 in the burner 5. Thus,

it will be evident that, after igniting the burner 4, the valve 21 maybe moved into position to cut oii! communication with the pipe 30 andestablish communication with the pipe 38 and operated to supply anigniting charge to the latter burner, the main fuel supply herein beingestablished through usual twin valves 8. Further, after both burnershave been ignited, communication between the pipes 30 and 38 and thecylinder IIJ and reservoir I may be interrupted by closing the one valve21. Obviously, if desired, by using a like valve 21 of suitably modifiedconstruction the mechanism may also be adapted vsuccessively to supplyan igniting charge to more than two burners. Also, if desired, the valve21 may be so constructed, although this construction is not preferred,in such manner as simultaneously to supply an igniting charge to two ormore burners for each operation of the pump, two or more simultaneouslyoperative ports 28 then being provided in the valve and communicating atthe Sametime with the inlet port or passagethereof and with-differentoutlets and igniters in an obvious manner.

.In the operation of the complete structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, itwill be evident that, with the main valve 8 in closed. position andthe'valve 2 1 communicating with the igniter pipe of burner 4, pullingup and releasing the pump piston I3 will result inthe delivery of anigniting charge to the igniter wick 32 and burner wick 8. both of whichwill be saturated with oil, while the surplus v oil will run into thechannels of the base 3. with.

the valye 8 then turned on and the top of the igniter wick 32 lighted,the flame will proceed down the wick 32 to the wick 6 and ignite thelatter. 4Then, by further turning of the valve 21,

the fuel from its upper to its lower end as the the supply of oil 4tothe pipe 30A] can be out off, and 76 upon another operation of thispump, another igniting charge may be suppliedtothe pipe 38 in ignited ina similar manner,

valve 21 will throw the same into closed position cutting olf the supplyto both igniter pipes.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a modified constructionv Lwhich may be used ifdesired. Therein, insteadof one delivery portion 35, two such deliveryportions are provided on the portion 3l of the pipe 30 and, instead ofone wick 32, two such wicks-are provided, each cooperating with adifferent wick 6 in the burner base. Such a construction enablessimultaneous igniting and saturation of both wicks 32 and both wicks 6and may be used under certain circumstances. However, I find that theuse of a single igniter Wick is adequate under most circumstances due tothe connection of the channels containing the wicks 6.

In Figs. 6 to 8, I have shown a. further modified construction. This isgenerally similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 but includes a bottomliquid supply for the igniter wick and a modied pump structure, as wellas a modied igniter wick structure. Referring rst to the pump, it willbe' -valve member 45 on the bottom of the pump piston 46. In thisconstruction also, suitable check valves 41 are provided in the piston-46, -for eX- ample, reciprocating spring connected plunger typevalvesadapted to be automatically closed during lowering ofthe pistonand opened during raising of the latter. Further, referring to themodified wick structure, it will -be noted that thev latter comprises aperforated tube 48, perforated as at 49 tol permit the free lateral iiowof fuel therethrough, and an outer enclosing brous cover 50` similar'tcthat used on the wick 32 and saturated by said flow. In the illustrativestructure, this tubular member 48 has a lower uncovered end portion 5iextendingdown along side the wick 6 and into a suitable support carriedon the burner base 3. As shown, this support is in the form of an elbow52, in one end of which the tube 5I is received and supported at thedesired height, while that end of the elbow is suitably attached in anaperture 53 in the bottom of the burner base; the elbow 52 also having areducedV passage 54 therethrough, supplying fuel to the tube 48 from apipe 55 corresponding to the pipe 29 previously described.

In this construction, it will be evident that the general operation ofthe igniter mechanism will be substantially as previously described andthat the wick or fibrous member 50 may also be lighted from the top.However, the igniter fuel will here be forced from the pump upthroughthe bottom of the burner base and up into the igniter wick 50, ratherthan flowing down thewick 32, but still in such manner as to. saturatethe wick 50 while also supplying fuel to the wick Band base channels.Thus, when the igniter valve 21 has been turned on and the pump has beenoperated, the wick may be ignited from the top as heretofore, and theflame will creep down to ignite the regular wick 6. In'practice,however, I prefer the top fuel supply shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the latternot requiring any changes in th/ burner base and the valve.

being adapted to any one of a plurality of standard burners withut suchdrilling or threading of the base as is necessary in the form shown inthe construction in Fig. 6. It will, however, be understood that, ifdesired, I may use the pump of Fig. 8, in lieu of the pump shown in Fig.4, inA the construction of Fig. 1. Further, in this latter construction,if desired, I may also substitute a wick core of the tubularconstruction shown in Fig. 7, although I prefer the construction shownin Fig. 3 on account of its elimination of the small holes 49 in thetubular member 48 and any possible clogging thereof under certainconditions. Y

In Fig. 9, I have alsoillustrated a modified form of pumpwhich may beused in lieu of the pumps heretofore'described, if desired. In thislconstruction, the pump is provided with valves corresponding in generalto the valves A and B shown in Fig. 4, and also with improved 'trippingmeans for tripping these valves when the pump piston I3 is in the bottomof the cylinder I Il. More particularly, it will be observed that anoutlet valve having a shank 56 and a conical closure 51, normallyelevated by a spring 58, is provided with an elongated slot connection59 on the upper end of its stem,` while a corresponding reverselydisposed inlet valve 60, having a collar 6I on a depending stem actedupon., by a spring 62, is provided with a like slotted connection 63above and controlling the inlet port 64 and the outlet valve 51controlling an outlet port 65, and across arm 66 pivoted intermediateits ends at 61 and having pins 68 and 69 received in the slotconnections 63 and 5,9 respectively, and an upstanding arm 10 on thecross memberji projecting into the path of the piston I3, the valves 60and 51 will be tripped in such manner that any excess oil remaining inthe vertical portion of the igniter supply pipes will ow back tothe pumpcylinder until the oil level equalizes. Thus, for

example, the oil remaining in the pipe 39 will be substantially loweredin such manner as to remove any difliculty of sputtering ofoil in such apipe even if the same is of relatively large diameter. However, due tothe use of a pipe 3| of small diameter, the diiiiculty with sputteringis' found to be eliminated in such manner as not to -still maintainingthe minute difference in level Thus, with the inlet valve 60 above ofthe liquid in the reservoir and the burner base requiredunder the fireregulations. Thus, for

example, in certain jurisdictions where this difwill creep down the wickin the space o-f a few seconds, and with the surplus of vthe ignitingfluid supplied to the wick in the burner and the burner channels, theburner will be started in effective operation in substantially less timethan' 4ha's heretofore been possible even with a new burner. Further,withthe ignitingcharge metered by the pump and the igniting fueldelivered between the shells and ignited at the top so that `flame mustvcreep down the wick between these shells, -my improved construction isentirely safe in use. Safety is further promoted by the provision of thevalve shutting off the supply to the igniter and theuse of the smallriser tube leading to the top of the shells, which tube can, of course,be spaced as far as desired from the shells. Attention is yfurtherdirected to the fact that my improved construction, shown in Figs. 1 to4, is adapted to use'on standard burner equipments without substantialchange and with- 1 out any necessary change in the burner base or in thereservoir. It will also be evident that my.v

construction is such as tobe inexpensively produced and to be readilyand quickly applied, while also being adapted to function satisfactorilyover long periods without -requiring servicing. These and otheradvantages of my improvements will, however, be clearly apparent tothose skilled in the art. l

While I have in this application specically described several formswhich my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthese forms of the same have been shown for purposes of illustration andthat the invention may be modified and embodied in other forms', eitherwith or without starting wicks, without departing from itsspirit or thescope of the appended claims.

` What I claim as new and desire to lsecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An oil burner having a flue and starting wick means thereincomprising an igniting wick having an igniting portion adjacent the topof said flue and carrying igniting fuel to the .bottom of said flue,said igniting wick having passage forming core means therein below theflue top. Y

2. An oil burner having'a flue and starting Wick means thereincomprising an igniting wick having an igniting portion adjacent the topof said flue, said igniting Wick having therein core forming means forsaturating said igniting wick laterally and providing a longitudinalflow of igniting fuel therethrough.

3. An oil burner having a flue having a combustion chamber extending tothe bottom thereof, an igniting wick adjacent the top of said ue andsupplyingyfuel'to said combustion chamber, and meansfor supporting saidigniting wick in operative position in said flue having igniting fuelsupply means delivering to one end of said E igniting wick.

of, an ligniting wick adjacent the top of said nue and supplyinglfuel-to-said combustion chamber,

andnn igniting fuel supply'for said igniter wick including a pipeextending upward outside said flueand delivering to the upper end ofsaid igniter wick.

'6. -An oil burner having a nue having a combustion chamber extending tothe bottom there- `-of, an igniting wick adjacent the top of said flueand supplying fuel to said combustion cham.-

f ber, and an igniting fuel supply for said wick outside said due anddelivering tothe upper end of said igniter wick. y

7. An oil burner having a flue, an igniting wick extending inside saidflue and having anigniting portion adjacent the top of said flue, meansfor supporting said portion in said position, and meansfor supplying acharge of 'igniting fuel to said w'lck.

8. An oil burner having a flue, an igniting wick having an ignitingportion disposed adjacent the top of said flue and delivering ignitingfuel to the bottom of said flue, .and means including a pump forsupplying a charge of igniting fuel to said wick.

9. An oil burner having a flue, an igniting wick having an ignitingportion .disposed adjacent the top of said flue and delivering ignitingfuel to the bottom of said nue, and mechanism for supplying a charge "ofigniting fuel to said wick including a pump having a piston biased tocharge ejectll'g 'Wick having an igniting portion disposed adjacent thetop of said flue and means also supply-v ing igniting fuel into saidflue below said portion, and a fuel supply for supplying a charge ofigniting fuel to said igniting wick including igniting fuel deliverymeans delivering to one end of said wick.

11. In an oil burner having a flue, an igniting wick adjacent the top ofsaid flue and supplying igniting fuel into said flue, and a fuel supplyfor said igniting wick including a pump having a piston manually movablein one direction and spring means automatically operative upon releaseof said piston to effect discharge from said pump.

12. In an oil burner having a ue, an igniting wick adjacent the top ofsaid flue and supplying fuel thereto, means for supplying a charge ofigniting fuel to said Wick including a pipe delivering to 'one end ofsaidwick, and means for thereafter automatically withdrawing from saidpipe fuel remaining therein.

13. In an oil burner having a flue, an igniting Wick adjacent the top ofsaid flue and supplying fuel thereto, a fuel supply for said ignitingwick 'including a pump and a pipe receiving the discharge therefrom anddeliveringto one end of said wick, and means for returning to said pumpafter .operation thereof fuel in said pipe comprising inlet and outletvalve means controlling the flow through said pipe and operated uponoperation of said pump.

14. In an oil burner installation, a plurality of burners havingcombustion chambers and shells enclosing said chambers, igniter Wicksbetween said shells and 'having igniting .portions ladjacent the topsthereof, fuel supply connections to each of said portions, and valvemeans in said connections for selectively controlling the fuel supply tosaid wicks.

15. In an oil burner installation, a plurality of burners havingcombustion' chambers and shells enclosing said chambers, igniter wicksbetween said shells and having igniting portions adjacent the topsthereof, fuel supply connections to each of said portions, valvemeans insaid connections for selectively controlling the fuel supply tosaidWicks, and a fuel pump supplying said fuel con-- nections. f

16. In an oil burner installation, a plurality of burnershavingcombustion .chambers and shells enclosingisaid chambers, igniter wicksbetween said shells and having igniting portions adjacent the topsthereof, fuel supply connections-to eachv er having a ue, a reservoir 25adjacent the top 'of of said portions, valvemeans in said connectionsfor selectively wicks, a fuel v tions, a main fuel supply for saidburners having 5 the intake of said pump connected thereto, and

selectively operable valve means controlling said burners and betweenthe latter and said intake connection. A f

17. An oil burner installation including a burnout of the path ofproducts of combustion issuing from said ue, and gniting means in saidue having an igniting portion disposed adjacent the Atop of said iiueand delivering to the bottom of said ue,

and gniting fuel supply connections delivering adjacent the top of saidue and connected be tween said gniting including connections likewisedisposed out of the path of said products of combustion and operative todeliver fuel to said gnitingv portion.

18. An oil burner installation including a burner having a ue, areservoir out of the path of products of combustion issuing from saidue, and gniting means having an gniting portion said flue and gnitingfuel supply connections between said portion and said reservoirincluding connections likewise disposed out of the path of said productsof combustion and operative to deliver fuel to said portion, saidvconnections including means for automatically withdrawing from saidgniting portion fuel remaining in said connection following saiddelivery. I

19. An oil burner installation including a burner having a flue, areservoir out o'f the path of products of combustion issuingfrom saidiiue, and gniting means having an gniting portion adjacent the 'top ofVsaid ue'and gniting fuel 40 supply'connections between said portion andsaid reservoir including connections likewise disposed out of the pathof said products of combustion, said connections including a pipeextending upward along the outside of said iue and delivering into saidportion adjacent the top of said iue.

20. A burner gniting wick comprising an externally non-innammable porouscovering, and means including a coil spring forming a core w withinYsaid covering for saturating the same controlling the fuel supply tosaid pump supplying said fuel connec- -its upper end disposed portionand said reservoir -plied at the upper laterally and providinglongitudinal flow of igniting fuel therethrough.

21. In combination, an oil burner having a base and a flue thereabove,and an gniting wick disposed in said ue and adapted to be supplied withoil while within said flue, said wick having its lower end disposed toignite the oil in said burner base and having an exposed portion atadjacent the upper end of said iiue for lighting.

22. In combination, anv oil burner having a base and a ue thereabove,and an igniting wick disposed in said iiue and adapted to be suppliedwith oil at its upper end While within said iiue, said wick havingitslower end disposed to ignite the oil in said burner base and having anexposed lighting portion at its upper end adjacent the upper end of saidilue and having provision for burner base and spaced flue forming shellson said base, and an gniting wick for gniting theoil in said burner basedisposed in the flue between said shells and adapted to receive fuelwhile within said flue, said Wick having an gniting portion disposedadjacent thetop oi said ue and having means for delivering gniting oilsupend thereof quickly to said burner base while saturating said wickalong the length thereof. Y

25. In combination, an oil burner having a burner base and a ueupstanding therefrom, means for supplying fuel to said base, and a fuelgniting wick in said iiue including an gniting portion at its upper endand adapted to be supplied with fuel while within said iiue comprising yfuel absorbent means having a core permittting lateral saturation ofsaid wick and longitudinal :dow of gniting fuel therethrough.

, RAPHAEL F. DE LEON.

